Ah, this is something Japan knows how to do, and do well. Research.

Sharp Corp. Sanyo Electric Co. and 15 other companies has joined forces with Gifu University to conduct research on nanocrystalline silicon, a promising material for highly energy-efficient thin-film solar cells.

The consortium will

1. explore the nanocrystalline silicon as the next-generation photovoltaic material = solar cell. Japan is a leader in solar cells and wants to pull far ahead.
2. analyze the properties of nanocrystalline silicon
3. collect the kinds of basic data needed to develop solar cell materials
4. use a scanning probe microscopes to observe electron movements in the silicon when the material is exposed to light
5. study unknown phenomena taking place on the surface of the silicon thin film
6. create a device to use for quick, objective evaluations during the product development process.

In the end, cheaper and more efficiently made and higher quality products, if Japan does what Japan does best.

Image courtesy of brixton

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Osaka’s Sharp Corp has a new residential solar cell panel (polycrystaline) that Sharp says has the highest solar-to-electric conversion rate to date. The new environmentally friendly product is called SunVista and will be released on Jun 18th. The addition of a third main electrode instead of the conventional two is the difference.

Sharp’s conversion rate will be 14.4% compared to the until now best 13.7% of Kyocera.Panels will retail for about $460-990. And Sharp wants to sell 17,000 of them each month!

Let’s see, what’s 17,000 x $600-700?

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